Around the World in Music Monday: Canada and Kenny Wheeler

 

Kenny Wheeler: Deer Wan

Born in Canada (St. Catharine’s) in 1930, trumpeter Kenny Wheeler can be claimed by two countries — he has lived in Great Britain since 1952. Wheeler turned 81 in January, and is still active.

Notoriously reticent, Wheeler prefers his work to speak for him more than his words. The record is lengthy and complete — Wheeler has all played kinds of jazz and played with all kinds of artists, from Anthony Braxton to his Azimuth trio to big bands to collaborating with all the best performers the ECM label has produced.

Said Azimuth vocalist Norma Winstone to the Guardian’s John Fordham (link below) last fall: “He doesn’t say much, but he makes what he does say count. It’s like his tunes.”

Mike Hennessey on the liner notes to Soul Note’s 1988 album Flutter By Butterfly: “Not only is Kenny a fresh and invigorating soloist with a totally individual style; he also is a most imaginative composer . . .”

Wheeler can sound less impressed. To Fordham in the Guardian profile: “I’ve never got over my phobias about playing. But it’s getting a bit late now. I guess I’ll just have to live with them.” (link to the Guardian story: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/oct/14/kenny-wheeler-interview)

From the 1976 ECM release Gnu High (below): 

Roy Eldridge: Let Me Off Uptown

Remembering trumpet player Roy Eldridge on the day after his death in 1989.

Nicknamed “Little Jazz,” Eldridge stood only 5-foot-6, but there was a time in the 1940s when he couldn’t have been much bigger. In 1941, after apprenticing with Fletcher Henderson, Eldridge joined drummer Gene Krupa’s band, with singer Anita O’Day (link above). As the only black member of the band, Eldridge suffered from discrimination at the hotels and restaurants and the like which would serve the other members but not him; once, reportedly, Krupa once got into a fight on behalf of Eldridge and was fined.

When Krupa was arrested for marijuana in 1943, Eldridge eventually joined Artie Shaw’s band. In the 1950s he moved to Paris and enjoyed the attention there, played with Benny Goodman, moved back to New York. He suffered a stroke in 1980, and for the rest of his life he performed on other instruments.

He died in 1989 at age 78.

Eldridge is the subject of John Chilton’s book: Roy Eldridge: Little Jazz Giant.

Said trombonist Steve Turre to Pittsburghlive.com:  ”. . . there only is one Roy, and that’s Roy Eldridge . . . He is the connection between Pops and Dizzy.”

Next:  Around the World in Music Monday: Canada

Fats Domino: The Fat Man

A happy 83rd birthday to Antoine Dominique Domino, otherwise known as Fats, born on this day in 1928.

A native of Louisiana, Domino’s family spoke French, but most of them were also equally conversant in a second language: music. Domino dropped out of school at 14 to work a day job, but at night he played music in the clubs.

Domino did rock and roll before it was called that — the link above to The Fat Man was released in 1950. When the craze hit, Domino was a natural with his piano playing, personality and voice, right down to the wah, wah, wahs. He sold more records than any other African-American artist in the 50s — though Pat Boone reached No. 1 with a cover of Domino’s Ain’t That Shame (Fats’ version was No. 10).

Domino had plenty more hits built primarily around two themes: walking and/or blue — Blueberry Hill, I’m Walkin’, Blue Monday, I Want to Walk You Home, Walking to New Orleans.

When the decade changed so did Domino’s fortunes — he never achieved that level of popularity again. His influence didn’t wane, though: the Beatles were fans, and both Paul McCartney and John Lennon covered Domino songs. McCartney said he wrote Lady Madonna in Domino’s style. 

Domino remained popular in concert but in the 80s he ceased traveling, preferring to stay home in New Orleans, where he made annual appearances at the city’s blues festival.

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, Domino was out of touch for an extended time, and rumors of his death circulated. A sign was spray-painted on his home: “RIP Fats: You will be missed.” Though the reports were exaggerated — Domino had been rescued — he did lose much to Katrina. 

From Domino’s The Fat Man:

 They call, they call me the fat man
‘Cause I weigh 200 pounds
All the girls love me
“Cause I know my way around